Green Day

“I plan to drink until I can’t stand up,” Beloff said.

Days in advance, Beloff said he already devised a strategy to achieve this goal. He said he would start his day by arriving at Connor O’Neill’s when it opens at 7 a.m. Beloff said he would then move on to the Brown Jug around 9 a.m. where he would continue downing pitchers of dyed-green beer. Eventually, Beloff said he would swing by a couple of his afternoon classes in a questionably sober state. Straight from class, Beloff predicted he would continue his celebration of St. Patrick’s Day by attending a house party down the street from him. Beloff included a refreshing nap in his rigorous schedule to rest up for a long night ahead at Rick’s American Café.

Beloff explained that, in his opinion, St. Patrick’s Day offers the ultimate excuse for students to consume alcohol.

“It’s the biggest college holiday — it has no meaning, but it’s just an excuse to drink. I’m not even Irish, but there’s not many reasons around to drink and dress up in green,” Beloff said.

Beloff is by no means alone in his methods of celebration. University students who have similar aspirations for St. Patrick’s Day have plenty of options at their disposal.

Ann Arbor bars, nightclubs and restaurants, expecting an influx of University students, have all prepared for the rush today.

Many of these bars and restaurants will be serving the St. Patrick’s Day beverage of choice — dyed green Miller Lite beer.

Jessica Johnson, manager of the Brown Jug, said last St. Patrick’s Day the restaurant went through at least 10 barrels of dyed green beer. To put this in perspective, one barrel is analogous to at least 3,978 ounces or 339 12-ounce beers.

Good Time Charlie’s Manager Jeff Sipple said his restaurant would be fully staffed all day — with 80 people working as servers, managers, hosts and busers — to accommodate the anticipated crowd from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Sipple also said the bar plans to give out free buttons and shirts throughout the day. He added there will be drink specials for green beer and Dublin Iced Teas.

Dominick’s bartender Ben Connor-Darrie said he will be working today from the bar’s opening at 10 a.m. until close at 10 p.m.

Connor-Darrie said he expected to generate higher tips today.

“I expect to make better tips than usual. It will be busy, and the more people drink, the more generous they become,” Connor-Darrie said.

Jon Robinson, resident DJ and part owner of Necto Night Club, said he expects to fill the club to capacity, but acknowledged that as a venue open later at night, many students will start drinking earlier in the day and be tired out by the time they arrive at Necto’s “St. Patrick’s Night” bash.

He added that club-goers will be able to resume their drinking with 50-cent Miller Lite beers from opening at 9 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.

“They come usually already hung over. It’s a weird atmosphere — people come completely sleep deprived. Maybe they just took a nap at 5 p.m., but then they’re ready to start again,” Robinson said.

Owner of Studio Four Reese Mangray said that in the club’s three-year history, St. Patrick’s Day has consistently been one of the club’s biggest nights. St. Patrick’s Day festivities, combined with the bar’s already established Thursday night popularity, will bring a good showing, Mangray said.

Mangray also said that there will be a six-dollar cover charge, green drink specials and DJ Clutch will be playing.

The Department of Public Safety said it has made specific preparations for how to handle inebriated University students.

DPS spokeswoman Diane Brown said DPS will be participating in a county-wide task force — coordinated by Sheriff Daniel Minzey — to look for drunk drivers today. She said the task force is composed of representatives from different jurisdictions that specialize in enforcing order during holiday chaos.

Even though this specialized task force will be deployed, Brown said she felt confident that there will not be any more drinking incidents today than usual.

“DPS hasn’t encountered significantly more problems during St. Patrick’s Day in previous years than any other party weekend. Yes, it is noticeable a lot of people party on St. Patrick’s Day. However, there is not a drastic increase in crimes committed,” Brown said.

Brown cited drunk-in-public charges, public urination, drunk driving and disorderly conduct as crimes that are expected to occur, but she said these are in no way different from the legal transgressions that occur on other weekends.

“DPS encourages everyone to have fun, but to do so responsibly, legally and safely,” she said.

Third-year emergency medicine resident Matt Hysell plans to celebrate his St. Patrick’s Day working at the University Hospital. Hysell said that alcohol abuse — even one night — can breed dire consequences.

“In the long term, excessive use of alcohol can result in brain atrophy, liver disease and heart failure. One brief night of indiscretion can result in long-term damage if you get into an accident that could paralyze you for the rest of your life.”

Hysell also described a medical procedure for a dangerously intoxicated person.

“If someone came in with alcohol poisoning you might have to give them an IV, because they will become dehydrated. If someone is still so intoxicated that they do not to remember to breathe on their own or face the possibility of choking on their own vomit, we put a breathing tube down their throat to force them to breathe and so that vomit cannot go down their lungs,” he said.

Not everyone plans to take part in excessive debauchery. LSA freshman Mike Calabrese said that he has an Economic 401 exam tonight that he will spend all day studying for. On top of this, Calabrese said after taking the exam he will have to start studying for his Accounting 271 exam tomorrow.

“It’s kinda sad that everybody has big plans for what they are doing St. Patrick’s Day, and I will be studying all day at the law library and then finally have to take a test,” Calabrese said.